Positive Activities for Kids Interview

Ellen Sabin is the author of The Giving Book, The Hero Book and a series of other books that "grow kids with character." She founded her publishing company, Watering Can Press, rather unintentionally after writing The Giving Book as a gift for her 6-year-old niece. The Giving Book caught on. Parents asked where to buy it, teachers wanted copies, and parenting specialists encouraged it to be shared. The seed was planted.

The positive reactions to this special gift led to its publication and the creation of a company focused on offering unique products that engage, excite and educate children. Since the creation of Watering Can Press, Ellen has found other topics that continue to inspire her to write more books. She's developed books on inspiring kids to care for themselves and the planet, embracing our differences, expanding our understanding of the world, and learning to overcome difficult challenges.

About Ellen Sabin

Please tell us about yourself.

I grew up in a family of givers and learned the power and importance of being a caring individual and helping others at a young age. After studying at Emory, at NYU, at the London School of Economics, and at Harvard, I took everything I learned and went to work for non-profit causes. Turning my passions into a vocation, I've spent my whole career devoted to working for, or running, non-profit organizations. Among other things, I've worked to provide healthcare to the homeless, develop systems to care for AIDS patients, promote the donation of organs for transplantation, reduce infant mortality in developing countries, help refugees, support healthy relationships, and empower leadership and self-esteem.

About Her Books

What can you tell us about The Giving Book and The Hero Book?

Watering Can books doesn't just present a story with a message, they let children be part of the story and incorporate the messages into their lives.The Giving Book: Open the Door to a Lifetime of Giving and The Hero Book: Learning Lessons from the People You Admire from Watering Can Press are critically acclaimed activity books that help children understand the power of their actions, inspire them to be good citizens and let them use their creativity to come up with ideas for being a positive person and making the world a better place. Unlike some story or activity books that occupy children for a short period of time, Watering Can books provide days and weeks of activity as kids are given many things to think about and to do while being encouraged to create a plan for incorporating the message of the books in their own lives.

The Giving Book: Open the Door to a Lifetime of Giving is truly a gift for young readers ages 6 to 11 - inspiring, teaching, and engaging them to give back to the world. The book helps them record their ideas, dreams, and wishes for the world, making them the authors of their stories and creating a "scrapbook" of their journey into compassion, philanthropy, and the power of their actions.

The Hero Book: Learning Lessons from the People You Admire is a refreshing, engaging, and empowering book that helps children identify the qualities and characteristics they admire in others while also encouraging them to emulate these traits in their own lives. It offers inspiring narrative, fun activities, and great conversation-starters that will take children on a journey to find their role models and discover the hero inside themselves.

How can parents use these books with their children throughout the year?

Watering Can Press books not only allow parents to keep their children busy, engaged and active in a positive way, but they are also perfect for groups. Watering Can Press offers free "Parties with Purpose" guides at WateringCanPress.com that provide a template for throwing a group event for their children's friends, neighbors, or classmates that is both fun and fulfilling. The guide includes recommended activities, themes and even menu suggestions. So, whether parents are looking to entertain and educate one child or twenty children, Watering Can Press offers unique and empowering tools.

What other publications and information does Watering Can Press offer?

Other award-winning titles by Ellen Sabin include: The Greening Book: Being a Friend to Planet Earth; The Healthy Body Book: Caring for the Coolest Machine You'll Ever Own; The Autism Acceptance (and Special Needs Acceptance Book): Being a Friend to Someone with Autism, and more.

The publishing company offers a set of free tools and guides to engage parents, teachers, and even religious leaders in sharing and using the books in many ways- educational, fun, and inspiring. The guides can be found at WateringCanPress.com. The "Parties with Purpose" Guides will help parents create fun and truly educational parties that kids will enjoy and other parents will appreciate!

Summer Activities

What are some common issues parents face with their children in the summer months?

Parents, especially in two income households, are often challenged by the summer break and the task of keeping their children engaged, busy, and learning! The school year is over, but parents still want their child to learn and grow emotionally, socially, and academically. To help this happen, parents need to be on the lookout for creative and fun ways to engage their children in activities, books, outings, and socializing that will inspire them!

Do you have any other tips or advice for families on summer activities?

Remember that learning, reading, and engaging in activities that will build your child's sense of worth and value are great all year long and with a bit of time and creativity, your child will return from the summer with even more self esteem and character.